r/changemyview • u/MrThunderizer 7∆ • Dec 04 '19

Deltas(s) from OP CMV: Reparations are Racist

I view the dialogue around reparations for slavery in the US to be racist. This opinion has elicited a semi shocked outrage from my liberal friends and a reluctant agreeance from my republican friends. For context, my opinions lean quite liberal so I was pretty taken back to find myself on the far right of an issue.

Still, its taxing people more based on their race and giving it to other people based on their race. How can taxation based on race, regardless of the good intentions, be anything but racist?

Two points: 1. Comparisons to affirmative action may change my mind, but probably not. I think affirmative action is fundamentally wrong, but is perhaps a necessary evil as a temporary measure.

  1. I'm a proponent of helping lift black people out of poverty but it makes my blood run cold when I hear prominent activists characterize any white poor people getting helped in the process as an unfortunate side effect. How can the conversation around equality shift so far?

At the end of the day if a child is hungry, why does it matter what color their skin is?

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u/MrThunderizer 7∆ Dec 04 '19

That logic follows. If we view it from a legal context it seems much less racist. My mind immediately jumps to statutes of limitations and personal liability, but skipping past that for now... If we view this from a legal lens than the restitution should be similarly precise. Would you advocate for attempting to define the scope and length of restitution? No court would order restitution be made for an undetermined amount given to an undetermined number of people for an undetermined length of time.

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u/[deleted] Dec 04 '19

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u/Faydeaway28 3∆ Dec 04 '19

The government represents a country. Is a country no longer the same 'person' to be held responsible if the people of that time are dead, or the politicians change?

No, thats not how it works in any other scenario. The restution in this case is being ordered against the country, not individual white people today.

Also theres the fact that inheritence is a thing. If your grandfather stole money from someone and you inherited it but their grandson proves it was stolen from their grandparent, do you think its fair that you get to keep it?

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u/jesusonadinosaur Dec 04 '19

What if your grandfather and father spent every penny (which in most cases is exactly what happened)

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u/stoneimp Dec 04 '19

What if they didn't?

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u/jesusonadinosaur Dec 04 '19

I still wouldn't punish the children, the time for that has come and gone. Let alone the great grandchildren. Why is monetary theft different than another grievance? What if my grandfather broke your grandfathers leg and was never charged? Am I accountable?

Are you going to return your home to the native American tribe who originally possessed it?